OUT & ABOUT: GIV Mobile arrives, red snapper season extended

Dusty Ricketts

By DUSTY RICKETTS / Daily News

Published: Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 09:03 PM.

Northwest Florida residents have a new option for low cost, no contract mobile phone service.

GIV Mobile, which launched last May, has extended its services to Fort Walton Beach and the surrounding areas. GIV doesn’t have any retail outlets in Florida, but people can go to its website at www.givmobile.com or call customer service at 855-448-6624 to sign up.

GIV Mobile gets its name because it donates 8 percent of its monthly phone plan to one of more 30 charities that customers can choose from.

“GIV Mobile is extremely excited to extend their service to the residents of Fort Walton and continue creating communities that are engaged and dedicated to answering the call and giving back,” said Omar Abhari, senior vice president of operations.

Phone plans start at $40 a month, which includes the unlimited talk and text, and the first 250 megabytes of web use. For $50 a month, the limit on web use increases to 2 gigabytes.

GIV Mobile uses T-Mobile’s 4G network, so the service is available wherever T-Mobile has service.

Among the available charities are the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Kids in Need Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

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A little bit of good news for the local fishing industry: It looks like the red snapper season is going to be a little longer this year.

The red snapper season was from June 1 to July 14 in state waters last year. In federal waters the season was June 1-26.

This year’s federal season is scheduled to be 40 days, June 1 through July 10. However, the season could end earlier if the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association data shows the recreational red snapper quota is reached before the season ends.

Like last year, the red snapper season will last longer in state waters. The proposed state season will run from May 24 to July 14.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to approve the season dates when its board meets in April.

If you would like to have your voice heard concerning current fishing regulations, the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension office is hosting Fisheries Regulations & Management Workshop from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Destin Community Center at 101 Stahlman Ave.

Daily News Business Editor Duty Ricketts can be reached at 315-4448 or at dricketts@nwfdailynews.com.

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Northwest Florida residents have a new option for low cost, no contract mobile phone service.

GIV Mobile, which launched last May, has extended its services to Fort Walton Beach and the surrounding areas. GIV doesn’t have any retail outlets in Florida, but people can go to its website at www.givmobile.com or call customer service at 855-448-6624 to sign up.

GIV Mobile gets its name because it donates 8 percent of its monthly phone plan to one of more 30 charities that customers can choose from.

“GIV Mobile is extremely excited to extend their service to the residents of Fort Walton and continue creating communities that are engaged and dedicated to answering the call and giving back,” said Omar Abhari, senior vice president of operations.

Phone plans start at $40 a month, which includes the unlimited talk and text, and the first 250 megabytes of web use. For $50 a month, the limit on web use increases to 2 gigabytes.

GIV Mobile uses T-Mobile’s 4G network, so the service is available wherever T-Mobile has service.

Among the available charities are the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Kids in Need Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

-----

A little bit of good news for the local fishing industry: It looks like the red snapper season is going to be a little longer this year.

The red snapper season was from June 1 to July 14 in state waters last year. In federal waters the season was June 1-26.

This year’s federal season is scheduled to be 40 days, June 1 through July 10. However, the season could end earlier if the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association data shows the recreational red snapper quota is reached before the season ends.

Like last year, the red snapper season will last longer in state waters. The proposed state season will run from May 24 to July 14.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to approve the season dates when its board meets in April.

If you would like to have your voice heard concerning current fishing regulations, the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension office is hosting Fisheries Regulations & Management Workshop from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Destin Community Center at 101 Stahlman Ave.

Daily News Business Editor Duty Ricketts can be reached at 315-4448 or at dricketts@nwfdailynews.com.